RSS feed Anne Frank Househttp://www.annefrank.org/en/
Anne Frank House Newsenhttp://annefrank.org/ImageVaultFiles/id_11311/cf_21/st_edited/6JdXnnhnS5oUi2b27DTU.jpg?~11311~http://www.annefrank.org/en/
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliancehttp://www.annefrank.org/en/News/News/2016/November/International-Holocaust-Remembrance-Alliance-2016/
Early in November 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) met in Iaşi, a city with great resonance because of the pogrom in June 1941. During the conference more than 200 diplomats and experts on the Holocaust worked together on commemorating and educating about the Holocaust. The seven-strong Dutch IHRA delegation looks back on this second meeting under the Romanian chairmanship of the IHRA.

Romanian openness

As holders of the IHRA chairmanship, the Romanians showed courage in choosing to hold the conference in Iaşi.

‘A terrible pogrom took place in Iaşi in June 1941. There are few places where collaboration with the Holocaust is so tangible. Having the political conviction to take responsibility for that black page in Romanian history is important, and it is visible in various places around the city.” (Annemiek Gringold, curator Nationaal Holocaust Museum, Amsterdam)

Concerns about Poland

Romania’s openness to its Holocaust history seems in contrast with the Polish state’s approach to its Holocaust past.

‘The IHRA expressed its concern about existing and proposed Polish laws that limit academic and educational freedoms in order to preserve ‘Poland’s good name’. People who consider that the Polish nation is partially responsible for crimes ascribed to the Germans could be prosecuted under the new laws. The Polish government has invited a group of IHRA experts to Warsaw to pursue this matter.’ (Karel Berkhoff, researcher Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide studies/NIOD, Amsterdam)

‘The delegations had an excellent discussion about the importance of freedom of speech and research.’ (Kees van Baar, Dutch Ambassador for Human Rights and acting head of delegation)

Success in the Czech Republic

The IHRA also contributed to a success in the Czech Republic. After years of protests, it has been agreed to create a memorial at the former Lety concentration camp.

‘The IHRA chairman spoke to the Czech authorities in July 2016 about removing a pig farm from the site in Lety that had been a concentration camp for Roma from 1942 to 1943. This visit and the persistence of the IHRA played an important role in the cabinet’s decision to shut down the farm. IHRA delegates will continue to offer their expertise with future developments, such as archaeological research and the creation of a worthy memorial.’ (Karen Polak, Education department, Anne Frank House)

Romanian historians talk about the mass graves near Iaşi, where the victims of the pogrom and the ‘death train’ of 1941 were buried.

Violence and prevention today

The IHRA does not only work on commemorating, researching and teaching about the Holocaust; it also connects the events with the present day, by focusing on genocide and refugees.

‘The IHRA wants to contribute to the current debate about preventing genocide. Inspiration for this can be found in a recently completed IHRA study, A Matter of Comparison, which lists organisations that draw comparisons between the Holocaust and other genocides. During the conference, the Swiss Special Envoy, Mô Bleeker, invited the IHRA to share its expertise on the Holocaust with organisations working to prevent genocide. (Niels Weitkamp, Adviser, the National Committee for 4 and 5 Mei, Amsterdam)

‘I am proud that the IHRA is launching a blog offering educational material on possible and useful comparisons between the Holocaust and the Second World War, and the current refugee situation. This blog can be found at www.holocaustremembrance.com from 16 December 2016. In this too, the IHRA is exploring connections with current affairs.’ (Marc van Berkel, teacher trainer, HAN University of Applied Sciences)

The future of the IHRA

The Netherlands plays an active role in the IHRA and will remain involved with the future redevelopment of the organisation.

‘The aims of the IHRA have a clear relationship with questions about citizenship, combating antisemitism and the current refugee question (…) The Netherlands will continue to make an active contribution to the IHRA, not least because of our shared ambition to fight antisemitism. (Floris van Dijk, Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, quoting from a recent letter from State Secretary Martin van Rijn to the parliament).

The IHRA delegations consists of seven staff from the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health, Welfare and Sport, the Anne Frank House, the HAN University of Applied Sciences ,the Jewish Cultural Quarter, the National Committee 4 and 5 May, and the Dutch Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide studies (NIOD).

]]>9b145673-37d7-4f2a-b109-9cfc6b25d045Fri, 25 Nov 2016 12:17:48 GMTWorldwide activitiesHolocaust en WOIIAntisemitism: Past and Presenthttp://www.annefrank.org/en/News/News/2016/Antisemitism-Past-and-Present/
A new book Antisemitism: Past and Present,published by the Anne Frank House and Boom Publishers, has been released. In a concise style the author, Jaap Tanja, explores many facets of antisemitism; a complex phenomenon with its own history that, unfortunately, still rears its ugly head today. The book is suitable for both a broad audience and for use in education.

Where do stereotypes of Jews come from? Where does the boundary lie between an innocent remark and a malicious prejudice against Jews? What makes antisemitism different from other forms of hate crime? These are seemingly straightforward questions, but in reality they are complex, with multiple perspectives. The book Antisemitism: Past and Present provides insight into this complexity of antisemitism.

Education

This informative book is accessible to everyone, but also has an educational aim. With the book the Anne Frank House aims to offer teachers of history, sociology and religion background information for dealing with the theme of antisemitism in the classroom. The book complements other Anne Frank House educational materials on prejudice and discrimination in general and antisemitism in particular.

Available

Antisemitism: Past and Present is a 148-page paperback with over 50 full-colour illustrations, and costs €14.95. It is a fully revised and updated edition of the book Fifty Questions About Antisemitism (2005). The new book is available from all (online) bookstores, and from the Anne Frank House bookshop and website. It is available in both Dutch and English editions.

]]>37cbe485-dc95-4e60-ab22-02ae3b425d34Mon, 15 Aug 2016 09:43:29 GMT#Allsearching http://www.annefrank.org/en/News/News/2016/Juni/allsearching/
To mark the 87th anniversary of Anne Frank’s birth on 12 June 2016, the Anne Frank House - together with its international Anne Frank partners and ambassadors - is today launching the social media campaign #allsearching.

“We’re all searching for happiness, we’re all leading lives that are different and yet the same”, wrote Anne Frank on 6 July 1944. By that time she had been in hiding in the Secret Annexe for two years, and she confided her thoughts on the people around her to her diary.

Join in

What do these words of Anne Frank mean to you? Join in and post your response on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #allsearching and @annefrankhouse. A number of Anne Frank ambassadors have already made a start and posted their contributions: see https://www.facebook.com/annefrankhouse/. The campaign will run until 13 June.

]]>d173e881-fbc6-4776-9e14-65ad3ed7f177Mon, 06 Jun 2016 10:25:43 GMTAnne Frank House switching to new entry systemhttp://www.annefrank.org/en/News/News/2016/April/New-entry-system/
From 1 May 2016 the Anne Frank House will be switching to a new entry system. For part of the day the museum will only be open to visitors with an online ticket for a particular timeslot, but it will still be possible to visit the museum without booking in advance.

The queue

Garance Reus-Deelder, managing director of the Anne Frank House, says: “It’s well known that there are often long queues outside the Anne Frank House, and it’s remarkable to see how visitors wait patiently in line to see and experience Anne Frank’s hiding place. In recent years we have seen the interest in our museum increase considerably, and so the waiting time has grown too. By only opening the museum to visitors with a pre-booked ticket for a particular timeslot for part of the day, we can offer more visitors the opportunity to visit the museum without having to wait in that well-known queue. But later in the day we will still offer the opportunity to visit the museum to people who don’t want to commit themselves to a particular timeslot or order a ticket in advance.”

Ticketing

From 1 May the new entry system will work as follows. From 9 AM to 3:30 PM the museum will only be open to visitors with an online ticket for a particular timeslot. From 3:30 PM until closing time (10 PM in the summer months) people can visit the Anne Frank House without an online ticket by buying a ticket at the museum entrance.

Opening hours

The Anne Frank House is open every day apart from Yom Kippur. From April to October the museum is open daily from 9 AM to 10 PM, while from November to March it is open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM (9 PM on Saturdays).

]]>4bad2d42-af69-4585-95c1-617fc1fcebe0Thu, 21 Apr 2016 09:22:40 GMTAnne Frank’s former homehttp://www.annefrank.org/en/News/News/2016/April/Anne-Franks-former-home/
The Anne Frank House and the Ymere housing corporation have announced their intention of reaching an agreement on the ownership of the former home of Anne Frank on the Merwedeplein square in Amsterdam. The two organisations have now begun the formal transfer process. The Frank family lived in the apartment at Merwedeplein 37 II from December 1933 to July 1942. It was here that Anne Frank first wrote in her diary, which she was given for her thirteenth birthday on 12 June 1942.

Partnership Ymere - Anne Frank House

Ymere bought the property in 2004, and restored the building in its original 1930s style in partnership with the Anne Frank House. Because the management of the building on the Merwedeplein is no longer compatible with Ymere’s mission - providing good, affordable housing for people with a limited income - the housing corporation decided to sell the building. Ymere board member Eric van Kaam says: “We want the ideals of Anne Frank to be preserved, but as a housing corporation we don’t see this as our role in society. We are glad to leave this to the Anne Frank House, in whom we have found an outstanding takeover partner.”

The restored interior of Merwedeplein 37 II.

Legacy

The Anne Frank House organisation finds it important that the former home of Anne Frank is preserved and properly managed. Ronald Leopold, executive director of the Anne Frank House, says: “The Frank family’s former home on the Merwedeplein is inextricably linked with the legacy for which the Anne Frank House is responsible, the hiding place on the Prinsengracht and the original manuscripts of Anne Frank.”

Dutch Foundation for Literature

Since 2005 the apartment has been rented to the Dutch Foundation for Literature, and serves as accommodation for writers from around the world who cannot work freely in their own countries. The Anne Frank House thinks this is a fitting purpose for Anne Frank’s former home, and that it should be retained. It is a place devoted to freedom, tolerance and freedom of expression. Ronald Leopold: “The Anne Frank House has been involved with the Frank family’s former home on the Merwedeplein for years, and we would like to continue this involvement from another position. Together with other partners and stakeholders, we would like to see how we can do greater justice to the general historical importance of the home without detracting from its current use as a residence for overseas writers.”

The only existing film footage of Anne Frank, made at the Merwedeplein during the wedding of her neighbor on 22 July 1941.

]]>a1acc91e-a2f9-45f6-a825-94ce3e5a324aWed, 20 Apr 2016 10:05:33 GMTRecord number of visitorshttp://www.annefrank.org/en/News/News/2016/Januari/Record-number-of-visitors-2015/
In 2015 the Anne Frank House received a record number of visitors for the sixth consecutive year, with a total of 1,268,095 visitors. That is 40,633 more than the previous record of 1,227,462 in 2014.

Ronald Leopold, executive director of the Anne Frank House, says: “We want to offer everyone the opportunity to visit the Anne Frank House. It is the place where the life story of Anne Frank is presented in the most authentic way. It’s impressive that so many people from all parts of the world visit this place and learn about this chapter of history.”

Worldwide

Millions of people, most of them young, also learn about the life story of Anne Frank in other ways through the activities of the Anne Frank House, which organises educational projects worldwide in keeping with the mission of Anne’s father, Otto Frank. Ronald Leopold: “The life story of Anne Frank encourages young people to reflect on the social developments of then and now, and inspires them to combat prejudice and discrimination in their own surroundings.”